Dispenser for roll materials

ABSTRACT

The dispenser for roll materials is adapted for permanent mounting to any convenient vertical surface, e.g., a wall, door, or other vertical panel. The dispenser includes a cabinet having one or more compartments, each compartment storing and dispensing material from a roll. An openable front cover is disposed over the front of the cabinet, the front cover having a corresponding number of dispensing openings therethrough and a cutting implement slidably attached adjacent each dispensing opening. The cutting blade of each cutting implement is disposed to the opposite side of the opening from the slotted track to which the cutting implement is attached, thereby providing access to the free end of the roll material after each cut. The dispenser is particularly well suited for installation in the kitchen for dispensing aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and wax paper, and may also include an optional paper towel holder depending beneath the cabinet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to dispensing devices, and more particularly to a dispenser for roll materials, such as aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and wax paper as commonly used in the kitchen, although the dispenser may be used in other areas and/or configured or scaled up for the dispensing of other roll materials.

2. Description of the Related Art

The provision of thin, flexible sheet material on rolls has been known for a considerable time. Conventionally, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, wax paper, and similar materials are supplied in roll form, with a single roll being contained within its own box or carton. Generally, the box or carton is equipped with a cutting edge in order to separate sheets of the material from the roll as desired. One of the problems with such individually boxed rolls of material is that storage space must be provided for the individual cartons, and storage space is often at a premium in kitchen areas. Space must be found in a drawer or perhaps atop a cabinet or countertop, which space is thus lost for other purposes.

Moreover, the cartons supplied with such roll material are disposable, which means that their materials (and the cutting edge provided therewith) are relatively cheap. As a result, such cartons with their cutting edges generally do not do a good job of dispensing and cutting the roll material contained therein. The material will oftentimes snag or hang up in the carton or on an edge thereof as it is being dispensed, and use of the inexpensive and poor quality cutting edge of the carton to cut a length of roll material often results in an uneven cut or tearing of the material.

While holders and the like for disposable paper towels are well known, they are generally mounted beneath an existing cabinet, separate from other roll materials. Such holders work well for goods such as paper towels, which are conventionally provided with perforations to facilitate the separation of short lengths from the roll without requiring a cutting device. However, such holders are not suitable for roll materials provided in continuous, unbroken lengths, as they cannot provide a cutting edge for the separation of a length of material from the roll.

Thus, a dispenser for roll materials solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The dispenser for roll materials provides for the convenient storage and dispensing of one or more rolls of material therein, while also providing a cutting tool(s) therewith for the separation of shorter lengths of material from the roll(s). The dispenser includes a cabinet adapted for permanent attachment to a vertical surface, such as a wall, door, or kitchen cabinet door or side. The dispenser cabinet has an openable or removable front cover. The cabinet includes one or more individual roll storage compartments. The front cover has a corresponding number of dispensing openings and cutting implements therein.

The cutting implements are secured to the front cover of the cabinet by a lateral slotted track formed in the front cover. Each cutter has a retaining slide mechanism captured in the slotted track. The actual cutting element extends from the cutter somewhat below the track and slide. A bridge serving as a handle extends between the slide and the cutting implement. A dispensing opening is provided across the span beneath the cutter bridge or handle. As the cutter separates the sheet material below the edge of the dispensing opening, a free end of the material is always provided in the dispensing opening for the user to grasp and pull from the dispenser when needed.

The dispenser for roll materials may include one or more roll storage compartments or shelves. There is preferably a separate compartment for each type of roll material to be used. The dispenser for roll materials is particularly useful for storing and dispensing roll materials commonly used in the kitchen, e.g., aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and wax paper, but may be used for the storage and dispensing of other roll materials at other locations. An optional paper towel holder may be mounted beneath the cabinet, if so desired.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a first embodiment of a dispenser for roll materials according to the present invention, illustrating various features thereof.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 1, broken away and partially in section to show further details thereof.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view in section of an alternative embodiment of a dispenser for roll materials according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a detailed perspective view of one of the cutter assemblies for of a dispenser for roll materials according to the present invention, with an alternative embodiment cutting element shown exploded away from the cutter assembly.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The dispenser for roll materials may provide for the storage and dispensing of one or more rolls of material, and is particularly well suited for use in the kitchen for dispensing such materials as wax paper, aluminum foil, and plastic wrap. However, it will be recognized that the device may be scaled up for dispensing material normally supplied on larger rolls, such as fabric goods and the like.

FIG. 1 of the drawings provides a perspective view of a first embodiment of the dispenser for roll materials, designated as dispenser 10 in the drawings. The dispenser 10 provides storage and dispensing for three rolls of material contained therein, but it will be seen that the dispenser may be configured to hold and dispense more or fewer rolls of material. For example, a two-roll dispenser 110 is illustrated in FIG. 3. The two dispensers 10 and 110 differ only in the number of compartments provided for roll storage and have various components in common with one another.

The dispenser 10 includes a cabinet 12 (mostly concealed behind the front cover in FIG. 1, but shown partially in FIG. 2). The cabinet has a back panel 14 with mutually opposed left and right side panels 16 and 18 (the right side panel 18 being similar to, but somewhat taller than, the right side panel 118 of the dispenser 110 of FIG. 3). The back panel 14 is adapted for mounting to any convenient and substantially vertical surface, e.g., the side of an existing cabinet, a wall, or a door using screws, adhesives, or other conventional attachment means. The back panel 14 (or 114, in the embodiment 110 of FIG. 3) need not be continuous, but may comprise a plurality of sections in order to save material.

A plurality of shelves extends forward from the back panel and between the two side panels, as shown by the shelves 120 of the dispenser 110 of FIG. 3 extending from the back panel 114 and right side panel 118. Each shelf 120 has a forward edge 122 and a front ledge 124 depending therefrom. This configuration is also carried out in the three-roll dispenser 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the forward ledges 24 being shown in the drawings.

The dispenser includes a front cover that is removably installed over the cabinet, as shown by front cover 26 for the cabinet 12 of FIGS. 1 and 2 and front cover 126 for the cabinet 112 of FIG. 3. The front cover 26 (or 126) includes a relatively wide sheet passage 28 (or 128) formed therethrough for each roll of material to be contained within the dispenser, the corresponding front ledge 24 (or 124) protruding therethrough and defining a relatively narrow gap between the ledge 24 and the edge of the sheet passage 28 to control the path of the sheet material dispensed therefrom. The various panels of the cabinet 112, e.g., left side panel and its opposite right side panel 118 of the dispenser 110 of FIG. 3, its back panel 114, each of its shelves 120 and their front ledges 124, and the top panel 130 of the front cover 126, define a plurality of compartments 132 therein, each corresponding sheet passage 128 communicating with its respective compartment 132 within the dispenser 110. While the top of the uppermost compartment 132 is defined by the top panel 130 of the front cover 126, the tops of the other compartments are defined by the respective overlying shelf 120. The corresponding uppermost compartment of the dispenser 10 of FIG. 1 is covered by the top panel 30 of its front cover 26.

Each compartment 132 is adapted for the storage therein and dispensing therefrom of roll material R, e.g., plastic wrap, aluminum foil, wax paper, etc. Additional security for the rolls R contained within the compartments 132 is provided by a series of roll retainers 134 extending upwardly from the forward portion of each shelf 120, generally opposite the forward ledge 124 of the shelf. The lowermost compartment 32 and the uppermost edges of the corresponding roll retainers 34 of the dispenser 10 are shown in the left portion of FIG. 2, i.e., the portion of the dispenser 10 having the cover 26 removed to expose details of the underlying cabinet 12.

The various embodiments of the cabinets and their corresponding covers are preferably formed of an at least somewhat flexible and resilient material, such as a durable plastic or the like. The front cover, e.g., the cover 26 of the dispenser embodiment 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2, includes mutually opposed left and right flanges extending from the lateral edges of the cover 26, the left flange 36 being visible in FIG. 1. Each of the lateral flanges includes a latch passage therethrough, e.g., the latch passage 38 of the left flange 36 of the cover 26. Each of the side panels of the cabinet, e.g., the left side panel 16 of the cabinet 12 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, has a flexible or resilient latch 40 protruding slightly outwardly therefrom. The forward portion of the latch 40 is not attached to the cabinet side panel 16, but the rearward end of the latch 40 extends from the side panel 16 and is formed of the same material. When the front cover 26 is installed over the cabinet 12, the latches (e.g., latch 40) snap into place within the corresponding latch passages (e.g., latch passage 38) to secure the cover 26 to the cabinet 12. The cover 26 is easily removed from the cabinet 12 by pressing the latches 40 inwardly and sliding the cover 26 away from the cabinet 12.

The resilient material of which the cabinet and cover are preferably formed provides for other features as well. FIG. 1 illustrates a pair of optional paper towel holder arms 42, 44 depending from the bottom panel 46 of the cabinet 12. The bottom panel 46 extends between the left and right side panels and forward from the back panel of the cabinet. It will be seen that the lower portion of the dispenser 10 of FIG. 2 may be equipped in the same manner, if so desired. As the paper towel holder assembly is an option, it is not shown in FIG. 2 in order to illustrate this configuration. However, it will be seen that such arms may be provided with the dispenser 110 of FIG. 3, so that the towel holder would depend from the bottom panel 146 of the cabinet 112.

The two arms 42, 44 are preferably formed as integral components of the resilient plastic cabinet 12 (or 112). The flexible nature of the material allows the two arms to be spread apart from one another to grip the core of a paper towel roll P therebetween, as is known in the art. Alternatively, the two arms 42, 44 may be spring-biased toward one another to grip the paper towel roll P therebetween. The term “flexible” is intended to include both the flexible mounting or attachment of integral paper towel holder arms, as well as hinged arms that are mechanically biased toward one another by springs or the like.

As paper towel rolls are conventionally provided with perforations to facilitate their separation as needed, no other means for separating such paper towel segments or lengths from one another need be provided. However, most other roll materials are provided as continuous and unbroken lengths of material, the user determining the appropriate length to be removed from the end of the roll for use. Accordingly, the dispenser includes a plurality of cutters 48 for cutting a sheet of material S from the corresponding roll R. Each of the cutters 48 is secured within and slides along a corresponding laterally disposed cutter track 50 formed above the corresponding sheet opening or passage 28 of the cover 26. Each cutter 48 includes a blade (shown in FIG. 4, and discussed in detail further below) that extends through the sheet passage 28 of the cover to engage a corresponding laterally disposed blade slot 52 formed in the lower portion of each front ledge 24 of the cabinet 12. The corresponding components of the dispenser 110 of FIG. 3 are designated as cutter track 150 and blade slot 152.

FIG. 4 provides a detailed illustration of an exemplary cutter 48, as installed with each of the dispenser embodiments. The cutter 48 is used in all embodiments of the dispenser, and includes an elongated handle 54 having a track end 56 and an opposite blade end 58. A slide apparatus comprising a pair of resilient barbed fingers 60 protrudes from the track end 56 of the handle 54, and engages corresponding passages 62 in a retaining member 64. The cutter 48 is secured to the front cover 26 (or 126) by inserting the fingers 60 through one of the tracks 50 (or 150), and snapping the retaining member 64 over the barbed ends of the fingers 60 from the back side of the cover 26 (or 126). The cutter 48 is thus secured to the cover 26, but is free to slide laterally along the track 50 by means of the fingers 60 extending through the track 50.

The opposite blade end 58 of the cutter 48 includes a short axle 66 having a pair of resilient rotary wheels 68 installed thereon. The axle 66 and wheels 68 are captured within the blade end 58 of the cutter 48. A circular blade 70 a is captured between the two resilient wheels 68 and rotates therewith. The periphery of the blade 70 a extends outward from the blade end 58 of the cutter handle 54. The resilient wheels 68 bear against the underlying material, e.g., the protruding end of a sheet of aluminum foil or other material as dispensed from the corresponding compartment, the wheels 68 rolling along the sheet material and the circular blade 70 a engaging the blade slot 52 (or 152) to cut the material along the line defined by the blade slot 52 and travel of the blade 70 a.

FIG. 4 also illustrates an alternative blade configuration, comprising a polygonal blade 70 b (e.g., square, etc.) installed on an axle 66 between a pair of resilient rotary wheels 68. In this particular embodiment the blade 70 b does not rotate within the blade handle 54, as the interior corner(s) of the polygonal blade 70 b engage the interior of the blade end 58 of the blade handle 54 to hold the blade 70 b stationary relative to the remainder of the cutter 48. Thus, the extended tip or corner of the polygonal blade 70 b acts as a knife or razor blade, rather than rotating.

The device is loaded by removing the front cover from the cabinet, removing the rolled material from its retail container, placing the roll of material within the desired compartment, and extending the free end of the sheet through the corresponding sheet passage of the cover as the cover is reinstalled over the cabinet. The sheet of material extends through the relatively narrow gap between the upper edge of the sheet passage and the upper edge of the corresponding front ledge when the cover is installed.

Material is cut to the desired length by pulling the exposed edge of the material from its sheet passage gap as desired and sliding the cutter assembly 48 from one end of its track to the other, generally as shown by the uppermost cutter assembly in FIG. 1. It will be noted that the elongate cutter handle spans the width of the exposed front ledge therebeneath, i.e., the path of the blade in its blade slot is somewhat below the outlet gap for the sheet material. Thus, when a sheet of material is cut, an exposed edge of the material equal in width to the height of the exposed front ledge remains available for the user to grasp for the next dispensing operation for that sheet. A shallow groove or depression is provided in the face of the front ledge to facilitate grasping the free end of the sheet material to pull it from the dispenser for the next use.

While the primary description of the dispenser for roll material has been directed to a device configured for use in the kitchen or for dispensing materials of comparable size, it will be seen that no limitations have been placed upon the size or dimensions of the dispenser. Accordingly, the dispenser for roll material may be scaled up to serve as a dispenser for larger rolls of material, e.g., bolts of fabric on rolls to provide for the convenient cutting to length of fabric from those rolls. Such a device will be most useful in fabric and yard good stores, as well as in other operations (industrial, retail sales, etc.) where lengths of material must be cut from continuous rolls of material.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A dispenser for roll materials, comprising: a cabinet having a back panel and mutually opposed left and right side panels; at least one shelf extending between the left and right side panels, the shelf extending forward from the back panel, the shelf having a forward edge; a front ledge depending from the forward edge of the shelf; a front cover removably installed over the front ledge of the at least one shelf, the front cover having at least one sheet passage formed therethrough and a top panel, the panels, the shelf, the front ledge of the cabinet, and the top panel of the front cover defining at least one compartment therein, the sheet passage communicating with the compartment; at least one cutter track disposed laterally across the front cover; a cutter secured to and traveling laterally along the cutter track; and a blade extending from the cutter, the blade extending through the sheet passage of the front cover.
 2. The dispenser for roll materials according to claim 1, further including at least one roll retainer extending upwardly from the forward portion of the shelf generally opposite the front ledge.
 3. The dispenser for roll materials according to claim 1, further including: a bottom panel extending between the left and right side panels and forward from the back panel of the cabinet; and a paper towel holder depending from the bottom panel.
 4. The dispenser for roll materials according to claim 3, wherein the paper towel holder comprises spaced apart, first and second arms flexibly mounted to the bottom panel, the arms being adapted to hold a paper towel roll removably therebetween.
 5. The dispenser for roll materials according to claim 1, further including: a cutter handle having a track end and a blade end opposite the track end; a slide apparatus extending from the track end of the cutter handle, the slide apparatus being captured within and traveling along the cutter track of the front cover; resilient first and second rotary wheels captured within the blade end of the cutter handle; and a blade captured between the rotary wheels, the blade having a periphery protruding from the blade end of the cutter handle.
 6. The dispenser for roll materials according to claim 1, further including: mutually opposed, left and right lateral flanges extending from the front cover, each of the flanges having at least one latch passage defined therethrough; and at least one resilient latch protruding from each of the side panels of the cabinet, the resilient latches selectively engaging the corresponding latch passages of the lateral flanges of the front cover to secure the front cover removably to the cabinet.
 7. The dispenser for roll materials according to claim 1, wherein the cabinet and the front cover are formed of plastic.
 8. A dispenser for roll materials, comprising: a cabinet having a back panel and mutually opposed left and right side panels; at least one shelf extending between the left and right side panels, the shelf extending forward from the back panel, the shelf having a forward edge; a front ledge depending from the forward edge of the shelf; at least one roll retainer extending upwardly from the forward portion of the shelf generally opposite the front ledge; a front cover removably installed over the front ledge of the at least one shelf, the front cover having at least one sheet passage formed therethrough and a top panel, the panels, the shelf, the front ledge of the cabinet, and the top panel of the front cover defining at least one compartment therein, the sheet passage communicating with the compartment; and at least one cutter movably disposed on the front cover.
 9. The dispenser for roll materials according to claim 8, further including: at least one cutter track disposed laterally across the front panel, the cutter being secured to and traveling laterally along the cutter track; and a blade extending from the cutter, the blade extending through the sheet passage of the front cover.
 10. The dispenser for roll materials according to claim 9, further including: a cutter handle having a track end and a blade end opposite the track end; a slide apparatus extending from the track end of the cutter handle, the slide apparatus being captured within and traveling along the cutter track of the front cover; resilient first and second rotary wheels captured within the blade end of the cutter handle; and a blade captured between the rotary wheels, the blade having a periphery protruding from the blade end of the cutter handle.
 11. The dispenser for roll materials according to claim 8, further including: a bottom panel extending between the left and right side panels and forward from the back panel of the cabinet; and a paper towel holder depending from the bottom panel.
 12. The dispenser for roll materials according to claim 11, wherein the paper towel holder comprises spaced apart first and second arms flexibly mounted to the bottom panel, the arms being adapted to hold a paper towel roll removably therebetween.
 13. The dispenser for roll materials according to claim 8, further including: mutually opposed left and right lateral flanges extending from the front cover, each of the flanges having at least one latch passage defined therethrough; and at least one resilient latch protruding from each of the side panels of the cabinet, the resilient latches selectively engaging the corresponding latch passages of the lateral flanges of the front cover to secure the front cover removably to the cabinet.
 14. The dispenser for roll materials according to claim 8, wherein the cabinet and the front cover are formed of plastic.
 15. A dispenser for roll materials, comprising: a cabinet having a back panel and mutually opposed left and right side panels; at least one shelf extending between the left and right side panels and forward from the back panel, the shelf having a forward edge; a front ledge depending from the forward edge of the shelf; a front cover removably installed over the front ledge of the at least one shelf, the front cover having at least one sheet passage formed therethrough and a top panel, the panels, the shelf, the front ledge of the cabinet, and the top panel of the front cover defining at least one compartment therein, the sheet passage communicating with the compartment; at least one cutter movably disposed on the front cover; and a paper towel holder depending from the bottom panel, the paper towel holder having spaced apart first and second arms flexibly mounted to the bottom panel, the arms being adapted to hold a paper towel roll removably therebetween.
 16. The dispenser for roll materials according to claim 15, further including: at least one cutter track disposed laterally across the front cover, the cutter being secured to and traveling laterally along the cutter track; and a blade extending from the cutter, the blade extending through the sheet passage of the front panel.
 17. The dispenser for roll materials according to claim 16, further including: a cutter handle having a track end and a blade end opposite the track end; a slide apparatus extending from the track end of the cutter handle, the slide apparatus being captured within and traveling along the cutter track of the front cover; resilient first and second rotary wheels captured within the blade end of the cutter handle; and a blade captured between the rotary wheels, the blade having a periphery protruding from the blade end of the cutter handle.
 18. The dispenser for roll materials according to claim 15, further including at least one roll retainer extending upwardly from the forward portion of the shelf generally opposite the front ledge.
 19. The dispenser for roll materials according to claim 15, further including: mutually opposed left and right lateral flanges extending from the front cover, each of the flanges having at least one latch passage defined therethrough; and at least one resilient latch protruding from each of the side panels of the cabinet, the resilient latches selectively engaging the corresponding latch passages of the lateral flanges of the front cover to secure the front cover removably to the cabinet.
 20. The dispenser for roll materials according to claim 15, wherein the cabinet and the front cover are formed of plastic. 